U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
...thus granted the same indisputable academic status and social recognition accorded all other First Professional Degrees;
Dentistry (D.D.S.or D.M.D.)
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
Allopathic Medicine (M.D.)
Podiatry (D.P.M.)
Optometry (O.D.)
Law (J.D.)

FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEGREE
“A degree that signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree. This degree usually is based on a program requiring at least two academic years of work prior to entrance and a total of at least six academic years of work to complete the degree program, including both prior college work and the professional program itself.”